Figure molding and constricting woman&#39;s garment



S. COUSINS March 14, 1961 FIGURE MOLDING AND CONSTRICTING WOMAN'S GARMENT Filed June 12, 1958 INVENTOR.

FIGURE MOLDING AND CONSTRICTING WOMANS GARMENT Sydne Cousins, Westport, Conn. (345 W. 58th St., New York 19, NX.)

Filed June 12, 1958, Ser. No. 741,613

Claims. (Cl. 12S- 547) This invention relates to a figure molding and constricting Womans garment. More particularly, the invention relates to a womans undergarment such, for instance, as a girdle, panty girdle, corset or corselet.

It has been customary heretofore for garments of the character described to firmly press the buttocks inwardly and toward one another thereby ilattening the rear proiile ofthe wearer and rendering indistinguishable the line between the buttocks. This created an unnatural and undesirable appearance which only has been accepted because it has `been thought to be inherent in the design of a figure molding and constricting undergarment. Moreover, due to the present-day construction of such garments, there is a marked tendency for the lower rear edge of the garment to cut into a womans thighs below the buttocks, leaving marks on or even chaiing the wearers skin.

Other disadvantages of a conventional undergarment of the character describedare: 4that it restricts the stride because it inhibits rearward movement of one leg relative to the wearers torso when the other leg moves forwardly, that unless the undergarment includes a crotch portion or is attached'to an anchor such, for instance,

as a stocking, it tends to ride up on the body away froml its proper position, that it rendersy the performance of natural functions dicult and in many instances necessitates, even in the lcase of a girdle, detaching garters and, with diiiiculty rolling up the undergarment, and that even when care is exercised it often becomes stained as an incident to the performance of natural functions.

It is an object of my invention to provide an undergarment of'the character described which avoids all of the foregoing drawbacks and, nevertheless, is acomparatively simple garment which can be made and sold in the same-price range as a conventional undergarment `and does not require any special handling o-r manipulation for its manufactureand use. v

It is another object of my invention to provide an undergarment of the character described which will nicely and individually shape the buttocks, that is to say, will lift and round the undersides of the buttocks and slightly separate the same, rather than flattening and pushing them down and together into a single mass as has been the case heretofore. i

It is another object o-f my invention to provide an undergarment of the character described which is so oonstructed that the two .halves of the rear edge of the undergarment are mounted for hinging movement permitting them to swing rearwardly to some extent without stretching of the fabric of the undergarment thereby to ease the effort required to move the undergarment during normal walking, aiford less restriction to the stride and minimize the cutting action on the backs off the thighs. Y Y

` It is another object of Vmy inventionV to provide an undergarment of the characterdescribed in which the constant movement of the lower rear edge ofthe undergarment during walking is not transduced into an up- Velastic material, e.g., conventional sateen fabric.

2,974,667 Patented Mar. 14, 1961 ward force on the garment so that the garment does not tend to ride up on the body even if not anchored, thereby permitting the garment to be used without a crotch section and without securing the same to hose, unless desired.

It is another object of my invention to provide an undergarment of the character described the construction of which is such that the lower rear edge thereof can be rolled up easily in order to prevent accidental staining of the garment and to facilitate the performance of natural functions.

It is vanother object of my invention to provide an undergarment of the character described the construction of which is such that even if the same is attached to hose the lower rear edge thereof nevertheless can be rolled up expeditiously for the foregoing purposes.

It is another object of my invention to provide an undergarment of the character described which, in addition to all of the foregoing advantages and conveniences,

. in the appended claims.

ln-the accompanying drawings, in which are shown various possible embodiments of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a three-quarter rear perspective view of an `undergarment constructed in accordance with my invention and draped on a ligure;

Figs. 2 and 3 are front and rear views, respectively, of the garment on the figure; 4

Fig. 4 'is an enlarged fragmentary circumferential crosssectional view taken substantially along the line 4 -4 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical central cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 o-f a girdle embodying a modified form of my invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. l-S, I there have illustrated a girdle 10 embodying the instant invention and, except for the Vrear lower portion, being of standard construction. Thus,

the front of the girdle shown in Fig. 2 is entirely conventional, the indicated arrangement o-f the parts thereof being simply exemplicative and not to be construed vas a limitation upon my invention. More particularly, as illustrated, the front of said girdle includes a vertically elongated central single ply fabric panel 12 of a non- For p-urposes of design and to improve the molding action of the girdle, the panel 12 tapers downwardly from a wide top edge at Vthe upper edge of the garmentto a narrow lower edge at the bottom edge of the garment. The side edges of the panel 12 may be pleasingly curved for the sake of appearance. As is well known, this central inelastic panel tends to pull in, i.e. desirably atten, the abdomen of the wearer.

The remainder of the front of the girdle constitutes two lateral panels 14, 16 each of which is connected to and extends away from a dilferent Vside edge of the front panel 12. lEach lateral panel preferably is constituted of elastic material, e.g., two-way stretch power net','which is circumferentially and horizontally resilient,

.to the bottom edge of the garment.

indicated by the double-headed arrow A, substantially circumferential. The single ply bottom section 22 has its main direction of elasticity, indicatedby the doubleheaded arrow B, approximately circumferential, the same actually sloping upwardly and toward Vthe front center line of the garment. The intermediate seetipnHZtl constitutes `two plies of the elastic material coextensigvely; superimposedover one another, the saidtwo plies being identically cut and arranged. The principal direction ofresiliency of the two plies is parallel to that indicated by the doubleheaded arrow B. The three sections 13,29, l22 are secured to one another by transverse lines of stitching and are secured to the side edges of the central panel 12 by vertical stitching.

The outer edges of thelateral panels 14, i6 are secured as by. stitching to vertically elongated ank'panels 24, 26 which, like the lateral panels, extend from the top T ,hese flank panels likewise are constituted of two-way stretch elastic material which is resilient vertically and circumferentially, the major direction of resilience, indicated Aby the doubleheaded arrow C, being circumferential so that in conjunction with the lateral panels the girdle will exercise a form constraining and restricting inuence on the wearer to minimize girth at the abdomen and waist.

The back of the girdle which is best shown in Figs. 1 and 3 includes a circumferentially elastic top rearpanel 2S the opposite side edges of which are joined'as by stitching to the upper portions of the side edges 'of the flank panels 24, 26.

Beneath the top panel 2S I provide a second rear panel 30 the upper edge of which is secured as by stitching to the lower edge of the elastic panel 28. The panel 30 is of inelastic material such, for instance, as sateen. The side edges of said panel 30 are joined as by stitching to the side edges of the llank panels 24, 26 immediately below the top elastic panel 28.

T he inelastic panel 30 covers a substantial portion of the wearers buttocks as can be seen in Fig. l. However, it terminates well above the bottom edges of the buttocks, i.e., above the crease lines between the bottom edges'ot the buttocks and the upper ends ofthe thighs. Said inelastic panel exerts a flattening and constraining eiect on the underlying part of the wearer; that is to say, over its zone of influence it wilLatten'the buttocks. However, as just noted, said panel 30 covers only the upper portion of the buttocksapproximately the upper two-thirds thereof-so that this flattening etlect appears only over the indicated parts of the buttocks and is not exerted over the lower portions of the buttocks.

As thus far described, the girdle is entirely conventional' save for the high termination zone of the lower edge of the inelastic rear Ypanel which ordinarily, whether such rear panel be elastic or inelastic, would be located near the bottom edges of the buttocks, customariiy, slightly below the bottom edges of the buttocks and near the upper` ends of the thighs so as to completely constain and flatten the buttocks and, to all intents, fuse them into a single mass. All of the details of the girdle construction, other than that just mentioned, has been given simply to complete the description of the garment anchored, i.e., secured as by stitching 36, to the llower edge of the inelastic rear panel 30. The side edges of the panels 32, 34 are matchingly shaped and jointly anchored, eg., by stitching 38, to the lower portions of the side edges of the flank panels 24, 26. Except for these joint attachments at their upper and side edges the two panels 32, 34 are independent of one another, i.e., are free to move relative to one another. Each of the two panels slopes centrally upwardly, their bottom edges -f-(l, d2 crossing one another at an angle. In other words the bottom edge of each panel 40, i2 runs from the bottom edge of one ilank panel to a point on the side edge of the other flank panel well above the bottom thereof. Desir-ably, the inclination and location of the bottom edges of the two panels is symmetrical so that the two said edges cross one another at E on the vertical center line of the rear of the garment. As indicated above, the two panels are elastic and preferably are composed of two-way stretch elastic material, one direction of resilience being substantially vertical and the other being substantially circumferential. Specifically, in each panel the major direction of resilience is parallel to the sloped bottom edge of the panel and is indicated by the double-heated arrow D.

It will be observed that the outer part O of the bottom edge fili, 42 of each of the two partially overlapping panels 32', 34 neither overlies nor underlies the other said elastic panel so that these parts O of the bottom edges of said panels are substantially clear and independent of one another, such independence being the principal feature of my invention-the feature from which the most important advantages of this invention are derived. lt will be seen by reference to Figs. l and v that said frec parts of the bottom edges of the two elastic lower rear panels are located at or a very short distance below the crease lines at the lower edges of the buttocks and, therefore, ride at or near the extreme upper ends of the thighs although it is within the scope of my invention, but not most desirable, to locate the aforesaid free parts somewhat lower on the body of the wearer.

When the wearer strides forwardly with one leg, for example the right leg, the wearers torso will move forward with respect to the left leg so that, in effect, the left leg is moving rearwardly relative to the torso. Such rearward movement of the left leg presses against the aforesaid free bottom edge part O of one of the elastic panels, specifically, the outermost elastic panel 32. However, since the bottom edge 40 of which this part O is a portion is inclined upwardly, the entire panel 32 will tend to hinge both about the seam connecting it to the lower edge of the inelastic panel 3i? and the seam connecting it to the opposite, i.e., right, flank 4panel 26. The force required to effect such a hinging action is considerably less than the force required to stretch, i.e., elongate, the rear elastic bottom edge of a conventional girdle as has been customary heretofore. Therefore, the free bottom edge part O of the panel 32 will not dig deeplyinto the wearers thighs or buttocks and will not exert a substantial restrictive force on the wearers striding action.

It also will be appreciated that in the zone where each free bottom edge part O is associated with the underlying buttock, because of its inclination it runs substantially along the crease line between said buttock and the upper end of the thigh so that said part 0 `and the adjacent portion of the panel in effect cups the lower portion of the buttock. The circumferential stress exerted on the girdle by virtue of its being stretched around a human torso is translated at this free rear bottom edge part O into an upwardly and slightly laterally directed force by virtue of the inclination of the bottom edge part thereby exerting an uplifting stress on the affiliated buttock. Since both of the free rear bottom edge parts O act in similar manners and since in each instance the upwardly lifting force is also directed slightly outwardly due to the opposite inclina tions of said free rear bottom edgev parts, the lower portions of the two buttocks below the inelastic panel will be pressed upwardly and angularly outwardly. This will, instead ofy flattening the buttocks over the full height of the garment tend to round the lower portions of the buttocks to impart a more natural, although severely controlled, conguration thereto and to form a slight vertical depression between the two thus shaped buttocks.

An examination of the garment, as well as an observation of its use, has demonstrated that these two relatively angularly inclined free rear bottom edge parts O of the two angularly overlapping elastic bottom panels grip theY lower portions of the buttocks far more rmly than has been the case in garments of like, character in which there was only a single elastic bottom panel at the rear of the garment with the bottom edge thereof horizontally disposed. It is thought that this firmer gripping action is principally due to the sloping orientation of said free rea-r bottom edge parts and their consequent ability to follow the surfaces of the buttock over a greater area. Moreover such enhanced gripping action also may be due to the independent movement of the parts O. However, whatever the reason may be, the gripping action of said parts on the buttocks is so excellent that a girdle embodying my invention will not ride up o-n the wearers hips under normal conditions. The greatest advantage tiowing from this characteristic of the girdle is that it is not necessary, when using such a girdle, for a woman to wear stockings to anchor the girdle. Heretofore girdles had such a marked tendency to ride upwardly that it has `been the practice of women either to wear stockings to anchor the girdle or else to utilize a crotch section i.e. a panty girdle. However, with this new girdle, although if desired `stockings can be clasped thereby, the use of stockings is not necessary as a prerequisite to the wearing of thegirdle. It, moreover, should be pointed out that, Vif desired, the new girdle construction also can utilize a crotch section, that is be employed in a panty girdle, but again this is not necessary to prevent the girdle from riding up. n Y Y A further advantage of a girdle embodying my new construction is that due to what is believed to be the hinging action it is particularly simple to roll up the two bottom elastic panels 32, 34 when it -is deliberately desired that this be done as, for instance, when a wearer wishes to perform a natural function. It is even easy to roll up these panels while stockings are anchored to the girdle. Due to this ease, it has been observed that the garment hardly ever is stained in the performance of such functions, land it will be appreciated that this, taken in conjunction with the ability to Yuse the garment without the easily stained crotch section, enables such garments to be maintained dainty and clean far more easilyl than heretofore. Y

The coniguration of the upper edges of the overlapping elastic bottom panels does notalect the operation of my invention and to' illustrate an alternate form for said edges I have shown in Fig. 6 Vanother girdle 50 embodying my invention wherein the upper edges of the overlapping elastic bottom panels 52, 54 are highly various objects of my invention and are well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein described or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. A figure molding and constricting womans garment comprising a girdle portion having front, side and rea-r panels adapted to encircle a wearers torso at least over the abdomen, hips and buttocks, said garment including a rear portion comprising a central inelastic panel secured at its side edges to the side panels and extending generally from the top of said garment and terminating at a point near the lower edge of the garment, a iirst bottom rear elastic panel secured along its top edge to the bottom edge of said central panel, the side edge of said iirst bottom rear panel being secured to a vertical edge of each side panel, a second bottom rear elastic panel secured along its top edge to the bottom edge of said central panel, the side edges of said second bottom rear panel being secured to the vertical edges of the side panels, .the bottom edges of said first and Second bottom rear paneis sloping centrally upwardly and in langular relationship to each other and being vsecured along their end edges to the side panels, said bottom panels being in overlapping relationship, the bottom edges thereof crossing one another substantially on the vertical center line of the rear of said garment, said bottom elastic panels being outherwise independent of each other, said first and second bottom rear panels extending substantially below and underlying the buttocks panel is Vprovided in the rear of said garment, the bottom irregular but, nevertheless, the operation of the girdle is 4. A garment as set forth in claim 1 wherein the panels are resilient vertically and circumferentially.

5. A garment as set forth in claim l wherein each of the panels is resilient in twodirections one of which is parallel to the bottom edges thereof.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,927,357 Borneman Sept. 19, 1933 2,445,322 Fridolph July 20, 1948 '2,446,590 Hill L. Aug. 10, 1948 2,640,196v Gould IuneZ, 1953 2,707,280 `Mayer i May 3, 1955 2,758,311 Studler v Aug. 14, 1956 2,805,421 Morano a Sept. V10, 1957 

